9-11 Wall of Hope Monument restoration weekend

The 9-11 Wall of Hope Monument organization is thrilled to announce that the WALL OF HOPE restoration is now in its final stages. This weekend congregants from Grace Church, Providence, are volunteering to paint 43 steel frames in preparation for the installation. Volunteers will gather at a downtown warehouse, donated by Tavares, LLC (210 West Exchange Street), where all of the tiles are currently stored. The Grace Church volunteers will be working Saturday from 9am to noon, and worked on Friday.

This restoration project is unique in that every aspect of the restoration & relocation of this monument has been donated. From the architectural design and oversight to the sealant being used, to the many hours of labor extracting tiles, to the many hours of welding new frames and supports; and from the donations of steel and its galvanizing… the list of altruism and effort goes on and on.

The restoration would not have happened without the generosity of Louis Gitlin at the start of this project. Providence resident and owner of MidCity Steel, his company donated the raw steel needed to create 90 new tile frames and to build mounting supports. Nick Schwab, Senior CAD Specialist/Custom Fabrication Specialist, has overseen all of MidCity’s contributions.

“There are a lot of people who view work as a means to just make money, but I have true passion for my profession, paid or not,” said Nick. “It has been beyond amazing to be given the opportunity to direct my passion to a project that is so meaningful. None of this could have been accomplished without Louis Gitlin, MidCity Steel’s owner, as well as the great crew on our staff that contributed countless hours to ensuring the project’s success.”

Alex Mendoza, of Gilbane Building Company, has donated his time and expertise to guide the restoration for more than a year, and he will oversee this weekend’s restoration activities. “This monument was created and restored by hundreds of volunteers over the years, including family members who lost loved ones in the 9-11 tragedy,” said Mendoza, “To me, the Wall of Hope is a reminder that our country will never forget those who lost their lives, and that we will continue to remember and honor them forever.”

The Reverend Jonathan Huyck, Rector of Grace Church, shared why his congregation is helping out: “The Wall of Hope is situated in downtown Providence, but is an expression of community for the entire State. Grace Church, which also calls downtown home, is a community of faith and a spiritual home for people across Rhode Island and beyond, and we are thrilled to be a part of this project of memory, love, and hope.”

Soon, Rhode Islanders and visitors from across the world will be able to visit and experience this powerful exhibit in the heart of downtown Providence. Later this year, the WALL OF HOPE will be installed at its new home on Sabin Street, along the Colonnade between the entrances of the Dunkin Donuts Center and the RI Convention Center, thanks our generous partner, the RI Convention Center Authority. Just as the original 9-11 Wall of Hope brought people together to commemorate the power of love over hate, the unveiling of this newly restored WALL OF HOPE can rekindle a sense of community and common ground among those who gather in remembrance and honor.

For an up-to-date list of sponsors and donors, visit: https://www.riwallofhope.org/sponsors.

The 9-11 Wall of Hope, a response to the tragic events of 9-11-01, is a work of communal art. It is unique and reflects the beauty and heart of the citizens of Rhode Island. The Wall of Hope was created across an eleven-month period with the help and support of over 350 volunteers. More than 12,000 Rhode Island citizens, representing all 39 cities and towns in the State, painted tiles, volunteered, and gave money and resources to bring this memorial art installation to life.

​Tiles were painted by children in preschools and by inmates at the Department of Corrections. Thousands of residents from Woonsocket to Westerly painted at volunteer events. There were tile-painting parties at synagogues, mosques, and more than 25 churches from throughout the state. Hundreds of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts painted tiles. Women and children from battered women’s shelters across the state painted tiles.

The monument stood in three parts at three downtown Providence locations (the Waterplace Park tunnel, the Providence Journal building and the RI Convention Center) for sixteen years as a testament to the strength of the American spirit.

In the Spring of 2019, Jennifer Robinson was hired by the City of Providence to direct the reimagining and restoration of the Wall of Hope. Collaborating with community partners, philanthropists, businesses and educational institutions, she set the stage for a new site for this spectacular work of communal art.

The tile panels are currently being meticulously restored so that they can be ready for their unveiling at the new downtown site in 2022. 

About the Rhode Island 9-11 Wall of Hope Monument Organization: Established in 2019, the RI 9-11 Wall of Hope Monument nonprofit organization guides the reimagining, restoration, relocation and safeguarding of the magnificent Wall of Hope community artwork installation. The organization was founded with the help of generous business leaders, philanthropists and local community leaders.

To learn more about the RI 9-11 Wall of Hope, visit our website at www.riwallofhope.org. An unveiling will take place in November.

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